Survey: Open source is easier to adopt

A rough economy and better ease of use has made open source software more popular with businesses.

Nearly all businesses (98%) use some open source software, according to a recent survey conducted by open source software developer Zenoss, Inc.

Survey responses were collected from 974 attendants of the annual USENIX Large Installation System Administration conference.

One reason open source has become so popular: It’s getting easier to use. This year, 71% of respondents said open source apps were easier to adopt than proprietary software. In 2006, just 26% of folks gave the same answer.

Another driving factor is the economy, as 57% of respondents listed the lower cost as a reason for using open source software.

That’s not to say businesses are ditching proprietary software. That still has several key advantages over open source. Respondents cited quality of support (47%), and product maturity, established brands and lower risks (all 23%) as the biggest reasons for using proprietary software.

What’s your company’s take on open source? Let us know in the comments section below.

Top Trending Resources

About IT Manager Daily

IT Manager Daily, part of the Catalyst Media Network, provides the latest IT and business technology news for IT professionals in the trenches of small-to-medium-sized businesses. Rather than simply regurgitating the day’s headlines, IT Manager Daily delivers actionable insights, helping IT execs understand what technology trends mean to their business.